Origin
Montrose, MN
Afternoon in Montrose on Thursday
Local time
2:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montrose, MN to Maple Grove, MN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
45m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maple Grove, MN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 32.4-mile drive from Montrose, MN to Maple Grove, MN is easily completed in about 45 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll navigate a mix of local roads and interstate highways, with approximately 38% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $5, suggesting a budget-friendly excursion. Given its proximity within the Midwest region, this route is ideal for a quick errand, a visit to a neighboring town, or as part of a larger regional exploration. There are no recommended overnight stops, so you can plan for a flexible departure and return.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route. You'll encounter stretches on Babcock Boulevard, US 12, and I-494, with about 38% of the total distance on highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll cover is 13.2 miles on Babcock Boulevard, offering a more consistent pace before transitioning to other road types. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' indicating a blend of faster highway travel and potentially slower, more varied conditions on local roads. This means you'll experience shifts in speed and scenery as you progress towards Maple Grove.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Babcock Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 13.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 32.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
23.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A-B
Toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
7
24.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 494
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 494
8
24.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 394 East, I 494 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 394 East, I 494 North
7
24.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 494 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 494 North
7
31.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Babcock Boulevard | 13.2 mi | 17m |
| I 494 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| US 12 | 6 mi | 8m |
| Babcock Boulevard West | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Bass Lake Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Nelson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 60th Street Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Buffalo Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Babcock Boulevard
— 13.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montrose, MN and Maple Grove, MN.
1
Start on CR 12
23 ft
·
7 sec
·
Buffalo Avenue South
2
Turn left onto US 12; MN 25
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Nelson Boulevard
3
Continue on US 12; MN 25
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; MN 25
4
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
60th Street Southeast
5
Continue on US 12
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 12
6
Continue on US 12
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Babcock Boulevard West
7
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
8
Continue on US 12
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
9
Enter roundabout onto US 12
140 ft
·
1 sec
·
Babcock Boulevard
10
Continue on US 12
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 1A-B
Toward I 494: Carlson Parkway, Linner Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 494
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 394 East, I 494 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 494 North
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 494
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 494
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 26
Toward CR 10: Bass Lake Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto CR 10
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bass Lake Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
CR 10
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.2 mi from Montrose, MN · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from Montrose, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Maple Grove, MN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Maple Grove, MN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.82 one way
$9.64 round trip
$3.78/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.07 | $5.20 | $10.39 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.78 | $11.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Maple Grove, MN
Afternoon in Maple Grove on Thursday
Local time
2:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Medina, MN
16 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
45m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Montrose, MN to Maple Grove, MN covers 32.4 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Babcock Boulevard, I 494, US 12. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.2 miles from Montrose, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 32.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Montrose, MN to Maple Grove, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Maple Grove, MN
More trips to Maple Grove, MN
Explore more options from Montrose, MN or browse trips ending in Maple Grove, MN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MN road trips.
Explore maps for Montrose, MN or Maple Grove, MN on MapSof.net.